The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-15

"What schemep" said Beetrus, hug
ging her shawl and looking over her
shoulder to simulate complete indif-
ference.
You know well enough, or can guess.
We mustn't be parted, my dear girl; 1
can't run up to New Harmony every
time I make a trip down this way.
Think of the long winter. Don't you
want to see me this winterP"
"Oh-yes," she admitted with
gasp.
II want to see you. want to have
you entirely to myself, to look forward
to every time 1 come in off the road.
Let's get married"
Beetrus visibly expanded and con-
tracted with a great breath.
"Get on the train and 90 over to Ev-
ansville with me, and We'll have the
minister tie the knot there. Then
home. And a nice little private set of
rooms, all quiet and to ourselves, and
no relations TO bother u.s."
"But mas fixed things to go up to
New Harmony for the winter" whis-
pered Beetrus, struggling with this
vision. "And she wouldn't change her
mind so suddenly-'specially as she
doesn't know you real we'll"
at isn't ma 1 want to marry" ar
gued POundstone, using his winning
smile. "Tll drop my relations, and
you can surely do the same.
drop maj
Leave her little while. Let her
90 up to New Harmony, you know"
"And what do you mean about drop
ping your relationsP" demanded Bee
trus, growing straighter and more self
assured, and burning more wildly in
the cheeks. THAT they wouldn't want
to be acquainted with ma and meP No,
sir; 1 amt going to let her go up to
New Harmony alone; and l never
would seriously have you unless she
knew all about it and was willing. She
might have read your letters if she want
ed to; she knows about them. l never
did any thing in my life that ma told
me not to do"
Il thought five minutes talk on this
subject would bring you to reason, "
demonstrated Poundstone.
Then you didn't calculate right"
$50 it seems"
I'm not the girl you took me for. "
"Do you want to break off with me
entirely?" he exclaimed, with heat.
"Yes-come to that do!' cried
Beetrus, finging his letters at him,
two futtering uncertain, but one
nodded by the grip of her hand and
darting like a missile. Il believed in
you, and see how you've treated mel
"My darling girl"
Don't you come around in my sigh
any more. And 90 marry somebody
that won't cause any dropping. cal
stand it."
81 believe you can" he sneered.
eyes, indeed; can standit So good
bye to you"
Saying which, Beetrus turned anC
scudded of, through Spanish needle
, and Doggy spots, until his first half
uttered remonstrance had been fo
some time changed into language o
another sort. 1t seemed long befor,
Beetrus found log on which she cOulC
draw herself, face downward, with he
arms stretched beyond her head. Thu
White Dove moved off from Wabasl
Landing two hours behind her ap
5 pointed time. She was a dirty littl
boat, carrying miscellaneous freight
t but among the barrels on the after
f deck some hard-favored and much
whitfield chairs had been placed 70
2 Beetrus and her mother.
= The young girl herself stood by tn
@ rope which served for railing, and say
4 her own heartache color all those fai
distances. Downy swells of remot
banks and bold iuts of rock were copie
9 in the river, so rufileless did it seem t
lie even when the strong current wa
4 moving. A blue heron stood at tn
b water edge mcditating, with one foe
t planted on sand and the other tucke
o up invisibly. 1t slightly spread il
e mighty wings, shook them, and folde
It them again to place, without appearin
a to break the trance of its downwar
# stare. When the White Dove churne
It along, shadows stretched upon IL
!. Wabash. Now it was very late afte
d noon, and now it threatened to be evel
T ing, with a hint that by and by it wouI
e be night, when you might expect Il
k woods to make deep black horde
along the river, and the canopy of sta
e to look smeared by the little steamer
e smoke-stack.
r When Beetrus was pale and tired 81
d turned and leaned against her moth
an ample, indulgent woman, wi
L nevertheless had one bristling mo
upon the right side of her face. 81
d broke the tacit silence in which tn,